HgCapital, the private equity group has sparked a battle for Boosey & Hawkes, the quoted UK music rights business with a £44.3m (€63.2m) takeover bid, trumping a £40.1m offer from rival private equity group Stirling Square Capital Partners.

Independent directors have now switched their recommendation from Stirling Square to HgCapital. The management, led by chief executive Richard Holland, has also changed sides and is now part of the HgCapital offer.